Italian rock/metal band LACUNA COIL recently answered a number of fan-submitted questions for the HailsAndHorns.com web site. A few excerpts from the chat follow below.

HailsAndHorns.com: Which of your past songs has the deepest lyrical meaning for you and why?

Cristina Scabbia (vocals): I feel connected with all the lyrics I wrote, so it would be kinda unfair to mention one song only… but I'll give you one of them. I feel really attached to a song called "Falling" 'cause it's a very personal one with a decadent mood. It's related to the feelings you can have after a breakup or in a bad moment of your life. It's an easy song to relate to 'cause I am absolutely sure everyone felt like that at least once in a lifetime.

HailsAndHorns.com: In my opinion, you are one of the finest metal bands out there. How do you keep your sound unique and fresh and original and awesome?

Cristina Scabbia (vocals): I think the key is to be open-minded and realize that as life proceeds, experiences are different and you change as a person. That doesn't mean refusing the past but it means to get the best out if it and to be ready to embrace the future. We never felt the pressure to enter the clichГ©s; we actually don't really conform to any. It can be good or bad, but that's what we are and whoever loves us it's because they really love LACUNA COIL, not a genre.

HailsAndHorns.com: You are my idol. You are strong, meaningful and a hell of a model figure to look up to. How do you see yourself? Did you ever think you would be a role model to somebody like me, and who was yours?

Cristina Scabbia (vocals): I see myself as a geeky girl who's been able to realize that it is beautiful to be unique, as everyone is. I love to play with my image and I find myself a pretty sensual person, but at the same time I am surprised when people look at me as a sex symbol. I barely wear makeup offstage and my fans know it. I am happy to be a role model to some people, 'cause I am sure that whoever looks up to me can see the "girl next door that rocks" thing

HailsAndHorns.com: How was the recording process of "Dark Adrenaline"?

Marco Coti Zelati (bass): Very long but amazing, for me personally. I had to spend everyday from beginning to end in the studio. But I love it because I learn something new every time I'm in the studio. By the way, this time we were not stressed as with our previous albums because we recorded all the music except for the keyboards in our hometown, so good food every day, home with family during the night, and working with great people that like to have fun during the recording session and not thinking about work every second. And as for vocals and keyboards, we recorded those in L.A. in a very relaxing studio without pressure and no chaos at all, so I'm very happy about that!

Read the entire interview at the HailsAndHorns.com web site.

"Kill The Light" audio stream:

RATT singer Stephen Pearcy has posted the following message on his Facebook page:

"I woke this morning to terrible news. We lost a dear friend, band mate and a sweet soul. Tim Garcia, original bass player from our [pre-RATT] band (1977-1980) MICKEY RATT.

"Tim was an amazing bass player. Even the first day auditioning him for the band in 1977 playing [LED] ZEPPELIN's 'Immigrant Song', Chris Hager (ROUGH CUTT, MICKEY RATT lead guitarist) and I were blown away. We found our man. He was so dedicated, read music, played anything we showed him. He remembered every song and parts Chris and I would even forget to this day. We always kicked ass with Tim, and he was always willing to be a partner in crime.

"When I moved the band to L.A. in January 1980, he only played a few shows and returned to San Diego to start a family. He got married, had a child and life sent Tim on another path. We always kept in touch. Tim even played with my solo band a few years back when I couldn't lock in a player to hit the road.

"We recently talked about getting the original band (MICKEY RATT) back together for a one-time reunion.

"I'm deeply crushed today and just wanted to share his brilliance as a great friend, musician (even if not a household name), bandmate and just a great soul.

"Another one gone.

"Life is short. Let's appreciate even those we have trouble understanding due to substance abuse who are our loved ones or friends.

"Rest in peace, Timmy. Your playing is always with us and you did eventually make it on records. MICKEY RATT set the foundation for my band RATT.

"Our music lives on, Tim. Love ya brother.

Pictured below (left to right): Tim Garcia, Stephen Pearcy, Chris Hager, John Turner

David Gold, a founding member of the Ontario, Canada-based black and doom metal band WOODS OF YPRES, was killed Wednesday afternoon (December 21) in a car accident near Barrie, Ontario. He was 31 years old.

According to Ontario Provincial Police, the accident — which involved a vehicle and a pedestrian — occurred at 1:30 p.m. on Highway 400 north of Highway 89.

The police shut down the northbound lanes at Highway 89 and traffic was diverted from the scene as OPP highway safety investigators collected evidence.

The cause of the collision remains under investigation.

The accident occurred just hours after Gold texted his mother in Sault Ste. Marie that he was on his way home, according to Local2.ca.

There were no other injuries.

WOODS OF YPRES' new album, "Woods 5: Grey Skies & Electric Light", will be released in 2012 via Earache Records. The CD was recorded with producer Siegfried Meier (KITTIE) at Beach Road Studios in Ontario, Canada, and was mixed by John Fryer (NINE INCH NAILS, PARADISE LOST).

Earache Records set up a memorial page on its web site after learning of Gold's death.

Formed in 2002, WOODS OF YPRES has earned critical acclaim for its ever-evolving, envelope-pushing mix of blackened doom metal. Most often compared to bands such as AGALLOCH and TYPE O NEGATIVE, WOODS OF YPRES toes a thin line between the catchy, the artistic and the extreme to create an unmistakable signature sound.

WOODS OF YPRES' recently released single, the now-ominously-titled "Kiss My Ashes (Goodbye)", can be streamed in the YouTube clip below.

In February, Christian hard rockers STRYPER released "The Covering", a tribute album to the classic rock and metal bands they cherished growing up.

Produced by frontman Michael Sweet, "The Covering" was unlike any previous STRYPER recording in that it was a collection of cover songs from bands that inspired them and helped to shape their sound and musical identity, including hits from JUDAS PRIEST, IRON MAIDEN, LED ZEPPELIN, KANSAS and many others. "The Covering" also included "God", a new original recording from STRYPER.

One of the standout tracks on "The Covering" is STRYPER's barnstorming version of IRON MAIDEN's 1983 single "The Trooper".

"I grew up on IRON MAIDEN and they were equally as important to me as JUDAS PRIEST was back in the day," Michael Sweet tells AOL's Noisecreep.

"I remember the first time I heard MAIDEN with [singer Bruce] Dickinson like it was yesterday. 'Run To The Hills' came on the radio and I was in my garage and I for a split-second I thought it was JUDAS PRIEST. I had never heard anyone else sing like Rob Halford up 'till then.

"I had heard MAIDEN's first two records, when they had Paul Di'Anno on vocals, but this was something much different to me. Dickinson had that wide vibrato, operatic thing that definitely reminded me of Halford. I was floored!

"Anyway, I went out and bought 'Number Of The Beast' that same day and was hooked."

Sweet told Noisecreep that while it was his idea to cover "The Trooper", he "didn't take into consideration how difficult that would actually be for me as a singer. We covered bands like SCORPIONS, DEEP PURPLE, and LED ZEPPELIN on 'The Covering', but the song that kicked my butt the hardest was 'The Trooper'.

"It's not just the technical side of Bruce Dickinson's approach, but also the tone and uniqueness of his voice. He's a guy that just has it all when it comes to being a metal and hard rock singer. You have vocalists like David Lee Roth who have more character to their voices than technique and then vocalists who are the opposite. Well, Dickinson has both. Once I said to myself, 'Just sing this song like Michael Sweet would sing it,' then it clicked. But trust me, it wasn't easy at first."

DISTURBED went on an open-ended hiatus earlier this fall, following the completion of the touring cycle for its 2010 album "Asylum".

During this year's Dimebash, which was held on December 14 at the Key Club in Hollywood, California, DISTURBED singer David Draiman was asked by the Artisan News what his plans were for 2012. "To relax, man," he replied. "I'm trying to work with a couple of different bands, doing some production. I'm really just kind of chilling. I wanna go ahead and impregnate my wife and have a baby. [Laughs] You know — be a normal human being for about five seconds."

Draiman married Lena Yada — a Japanese-American model, actress, professional tandem surfer and professional wrestler — on September 25 in Texas. The Pulse Of Radio asked Draiman how he thought becoming a married man might change his music. "You know, I can only imagine that it would give me more inspiration to write," he said. "I think that when you all of a sudden become a family man, and you have more to worry about than just yourself, your concerns, they build, in terms of things going on with the world, in terms of your life, in terms of your fears and your hopes and your dreams. And so I really think it'll be a tremendous catalyst for potential inspiration."

Draiman said in several interviews this past summer that "personal reasons" and the general state of the music industry factored in DISTURBED's decision to take a breather.

DISTURBED has not indicated when it plans to return, although all four members say it's not likely that the group will stay away for good.

DISTURBED released its first-ever collection of B-sides and rarities, titled "The Lost Children", on November 8. The set includes a previously unreleased song called "Mine" as well as a benefit track for the West Memphis Three titled "3", plus tunes that previously appeared only on soundtracks or as bonus cuts on international editions of the group's albums.

M.A.N ("Massive Audio Nerve") — the Swedish metal-hardcore-progressive four-piece featuring TRANSPORT LEAGUE/ex-MNEMIC frontman Tony Jelencovich — has parted ways with guitarist Nils Olsson and drummer Andreas Engberg and has replaced them with Mark Black (ex-DREAM EVIL, DRAGONLORD) on and Adde Larsson (BLACK CANDY STORE, ex-ENGEL, URBANDUX), respectively.

M.A.N will enter IF Studios, the IN FLAMES-owned facility in Gothenburg, Sweden, in February 2012 with producer Roberto Laghi (IN FLAMES, SONIC SYNDICATE, HARDCORE SUPERSTAR, LOK) to begin recording its fourth album, "Cancer Vulgaris". 12 songs will be recorded for the effort, including "Hoax", "This Generation", "Smack Down", "Young Insect", "Death Song", "Grace Of Time", "Lights Out", "Man Slaughter", "Cryosync" and "Sahara".

M.A.N's third album, "Massive Audio Nerve", was released on March 26, 2010 via the German label Tiefdruck Musik. The CD was recorded at Grand Recordings in Gothenburg, Sweden with engineer Svein Jensen and was mixed by Ulrich Wild, who has previously worked with WHITE ZOMBIE, STAIND, STATIC-X, DEFTONES, PANTERA and LIMP BIZKIT, among others. The mastering was handled by Maor Appelbaum at Maor Appelbaum Mastering in Encino, California.

According to NorthFulton.com, drum top autographed by MÖTLEY CRÜE along with two guitar picks were stolen from a house in the Polo Fields in Cumming, Georgia.

The incident took place sometime between 8 a.m. on December 12 and 11:30 a.m. on December 14.

There were no signs of forced entry into the home, which is currently for sale.

According to a Forsyth County Sheriff's incident report, it appears that someone used the real estate key left in a lock box to gain access into the residence.

The stolen items are valued at about $600.

British vocalist Sarah Jezebel Deva — who has toured and/or recorded with CRADLE OF FILTH, THERION, MORTIIS and ANGTORIA — has issued the following update:

"In 2008, I parted ways with CRADLE OF FILTH, to pursue a life in Australia, bum some kangaroos and to go it alone as a solo musician.

"I know a lot of fans were disappointed with the departure and until now, whenever a fan asks, 'Will you ever work with CRADLE OF FILTH again?,' the answer has been NO!!

"Well, last week, Mr. Filth [CRADLE OF FILTH frontman vocalist Dani 'Filth' Davey] sent me an email and after many chats, I have decided to take him up on his offer to participate on [CRADLE OF FILTH's] new orchestral album, 'Midnight In The Labyrinth'.

"[I] hope this will make some of you happy. If it doesn't, well, you will get over it."

Dani previously stated that "Midnight In The Labyrinth" would feature "nine classic CRADLE tunes reinvented as orchestral compositions." He added, "This is no elevator music (or indeed the theme music to 'Schindler's Lift'!), this is a full-on horror film soundtrack in the vein of Danny Elfman, Christopher Young or Jerry Goldsmith. Musical scores to whittle away the evil winter months to…"

Tentatively due in April 2012, "Midnight In The Labyrinth" will feature the following track listing (not final sequence):

* The Forest Whispers My Name
* The Twisted Nails Of Faith
* Summer Dying Fast
* The Rape And Ruin Of Angels (Hosannas In Extremis)
* Funeral In Carpathia
* Thirteen Autumns And A Widow
* A Gothic Romance (Red Roses For The Devil's Whore)
* Cruelty Brought Thee Orchids
* Dusk And Her Embrace

Austrian black metallers HELLSAW entered Munich’s Dreamsound Studios back in July to record their fourth full-length album. Titled Trist, the album is the follow up to 2009’s Cold, and is due for release on Napalm Records on February 24th, 2012.

1. The Devil Is Calling My Name
2. Sorrow Is Horror
3. Doom Pervades My Nightmares
4. The Forerunner of the Apocalypse
5. Death Bells
6. Trist
7. A Winter Cold
8. Beldam. 1450
9. Silence

British female singer Sarah Jezebel Deva (CRADLE OF FILTH, THERION, MORTIIS), and Swedish composer Chris Rehn (ABYSSOS) will begin work on a new album in January which will pick up where their last collaborative effort, ANGTORIA, left off five years ago. According to Sarah, "the music will continue in the same vein as [ANGTORIA's 2006] debut album, 'God Has A Plan For Us All', blending the world of epic orchestral music with metal."

Due to reasons beyond their control, Sarah and Chris have to change the name of the project. More information will be made during the coming weeks.

"God Has A Plan For Us All" was released in Europe in April 2006 via Listenable Records. The CD was issued in North America in October of that same year.

ANGTORIA's video for the title track can be seen below. Sarah previously stated about the track and the accompanying clip, "The song covers two subjects but they are both linked. Written about a man who preaches god's word yet finds it acceptable to sexually abuse children. Also this song describes the pitiful chilché used by many religous people who can't offer any other explanation as to why people suffer in their life. Rape, murder, poverty, whatever it may be, the only excuse that can be offered is: 'God Has A Plan For Us All!'"

She added, "The video was filmed at two locations, a very impressive and beautiful church (Njurunda Kyrka) and an abandoned deteriorated building, over a three-day period and due to the lyrical theme of the song it was filmed as a 'short movie.' It contains footage of as well the band as Chris' five-year-old daughter Saga who played the child, Toni Davey (wife of Dani Filth in CRADLE OF FILTH and covergirl on the [ANGTORIA] album) who played the child as a grown-up to a 35-piece church choir and a priest played by Pierre Ragnehag!"

Cleveland, Ohio metallers CHIMAIRA have released a free digital EP, "The Age Of Remix Hell", via Multiupload.com.

The track listing for the effort — which, as the title suggests, contains remixed versions of songs from CHIMAIRA's latest album, "The Age Of Hell" — is as follows:

01. Year Of The Snake (Dubba Jonny Mix)
02. Clockwork (Hunter Mix)
03. Year Of The Snake (Allinaline Mix)
04. Losing My Mind (Allinaline Mix)

Guitarists Rob Arnold and Matt DeVries will be leaving CHIMAIRA at the end of 2011. Vocalist Mark Hunter says, "We understand that life invades art, everything runs its course, and we have to take different paths. We respect their decision and wish them only the best. We made heavy metal history together and that is all that matters at the end of the day. 'Chimaira Christmas 12' [on December 30] will be their last show, and we've been preparing to make it one that you'll never forget."

"The Age Of Hell" sold more than 7,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 54 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's previous CD, "The Infection", opened with 15,000 units back in April 2009 to land at No. 30. This figure was roughly in line with the first-week tally registered by CHIMAIRA's 2007 album, "Resurrection", which shifted 16,000 copies to enter the chart at No. 42.

"The Age Of Hell" was released in the U.S. on August 16 via eOne Music; in Germany on August 26; and in the United Kingdom, Australia and the rest of Europe on August 29 through Long Branch Records.

Photo credit: Todd Bell

Here is the tracklist of the new album "Ariettes oubliées...".
Title // English translation
Total running time is 43 minutes.

I - Linceul d’hiver // Shroud Of Winter
II - La Traversée // The Crossing
III - Le Mouvement perpétuel // Perpetual Motion
IV - Ariettes oubliées I : Je devine à travers un murmure... // Forgotten Ariettas
V - La Nuit muette // The Silent Night
VI - Au Creux de l’hiver // In The Hollow Of Winter
VII - Après l‘Ombre (Re-recorded studio version) // After The Dark
VIII - Les Regrets // Regrets

"Memories Of A Time To Come", the ultimate collection of BLIND GUARDIAN music from 1987 to 2011, will be released on January 20, 2012 via Virgin/EMI. It will be available as a double CD, three-CD deluxe limited edition, including the band's demo recordings when they were called LUCIFER'S HERITAGE, and as download.

Commented the band: "Finally, after all these years, we have found the time to gather our most worthy songs into a best of compilation, representative of our career's first 25 years.

"From the very beginning it was important for us to undertake this project only if we could put the necessary time and attention to detail into it. With overwhelming nostalgia we have looked back on 25 years and came up with 'Memories Of A Time To Come', an organic mixture of some of our greatest songs.

"With the exception of 'Sacred Worlds', all songs on 'Memories of a Time to Come' have been remixed while 'The Bard's Song - The Hobbit', 'Valhalla' as well as 'And Then There Was Silence' have been re-recorded.

"This album contains some very pleasant surprises for the die-hard BLIND GUARDIAN fan and delivers a perfect image of our musical spirit to those who are not, or just loosely, familiar with the band. 'Memories Of A Time To Come' precisely defines our progression and the long-standing dedication to our music. We are proud to present an album that will take the listener on a musical voyage. This year's Christmas will be in January!"

CD 1:

01. Imaginations From The Other Side (7:11) *
02. Nightfall (5:34) *
03. Ride Into Obsession (4:46) *
04. Somewhere Far Beyond (7:32) *
05. Majesty (7:29) *
06. Traveler In Time (6:01) *
07. Follow The Blind (7:11) *
08. The Last Candle (6:03) *

CD 2:

01. Sacred Worlds (9:17)
02. This Will Never End (5:07) *
03. Valhalla (5:13) **
04. Bright Eyes (5:15) *
05. Mirror Mirror (5:09) *
06. The Bard's Song (In The Forest) (3:26) *
07. The Bard's Song (The Hobbit) (3:41) **
08. And Then There Was Silence (14:06) **

CD 3: (only available with the deluxe limited edition)

01. Brian ***
02. Halloween (The Wizard's Crown) ***
03. Lucifer's Heritage ***
04. Symphonies Of Doom ***
05. Dead Of The Night ***
06. Majesty
07. Trial By The Archon
08. Battalions Of Fear
09. Run For The Night
10. Lost In The Twilight Hall
11. Tommyknockers
12. Ashes To Ashes
13. Time What Is Time
14. A Past And Future Secret
15. The Script For My Requiem

* Remixed 2011
** Re-recorded 2011
*** Reworked 2011

An audio sample of an orchestral version of"The Bard's Song (In The Forest)" can be streamed in the YouTube clip below.

BLIND GUARDIAN is currently collaborating with Germany's best fantasy author Markus Heitz on an orchestral album which is expected to be released in 2012.

"At The Edge Of Time", the tenth studio album from BLIND GUARDIAN, sold around 4,400 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 108 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD landed at position No. 1 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

BLIND GUARDIAN's previous CD, "A Twist In The Myth", opened with 3,000 units back in September 2006.

"At The Edge Of Time" entered the German Media Control chart at position No. 2 — the band's strongest chart showing ever in its home country.

"Meet The Enemy", a brand new song from Swiss folk metallers ELUVEITIE, can be streamed on the band's Facebook page. The track comes off the group's new album, "Helvetios", which will be released on February 10, 2012 via Nuclear Blast Records.
Surf to Facebook to check out 'Meet The Enemy'.

Commented ELUVEITIE vocalist Christian "Chrigel" Glanzmann: "We're happy and proud to already present you 'Meet The Enemy' — track seven off our upcoming album, 'Helvetios'. It tells you about the 'encounter' the Helvetians had with the roman legions in the year 58 B.C. — one of the crucial points in their history, for it was basically when the gaulish wars erupted. So the song is pretty much filled with wrath and rage — upholding the furious spirit you might know from tracks such as 'Kingdom Come Undone', 'Bloodstained Ground' or 'Lament'. Furthermore the song's substantial instrumentation (including fiddle, hurdy gurdy, whistles and uilleann pipes) is also enriched by one of the guest musicians, we had the honour to work with — Fredy Schnyder (from NUCLEUS TORN) who contributed some amazing parts on the hammered dulcimer."

"Helvetios" was recorded at New Sound Studio in Pfäffikon, a municipality in the canton of Zurich in Switzerland, with producer Tommy Vetterli (a.k.a. Tommy T. Baron; CORONER/ex-KREATOR guitarist). According to the band, Vetterli "record[ed] drums, guitars and vocals and also produc[ed] and mix[ed] the record. Most folk instruments and also vocals [were] recorded by Anna Murphy and Marco Jencarelli at the Soundfarm studios in Lucerne."

"Helvetios" track listing:

01. Prologue
02. Helvetios
03. Luxtos
04. Home
05. Santonian Shores
06. Scorched Earth
07. Meet The Enemy
08. Neverland
09. A Rose For Epona
10. Havoc
11. The Uprising
12. Hope
13. The Siege
14. Alesia
15. Tullianum
16. Uxellodunon
17. Epilogue

A trailer for the album can be seen below.

ELUVEITIE will hold the first edition of its own festival, "Eluveitie & Friends", on December 30, 2011 at the Volkshaus in Zurich. Other bands scheduled to participate in the event include CORONER and KORPIKLAANI.

ELUVEITIE's last album, "Everything Remains (As It Never Was)", sold around 1,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 23 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

ELUVEITIE will join CHILDREN OF BODOM on the Finnish metallers' North American headlining tour in celebration of the band's 15th anniversary. The trek will kick off on January 30, 2012 in Rochester, New York and run through March 4, hitting 26 cities over the course of the five-week jaunt. Boston-based extreme metal band REVOCATION and Canada's THREAT SIGNAL are also on the bill.

Lemmy Kilmister (MOTÖRHEAD), Jason Bonham (LED ZEPPELIN), Mark McGrath (SUGAR RAY), Scott Ian (ANTHRAX), Glenn Hughes (BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION, DEEP PURPLE, BLACK SABBATH), Steve Stevens (BILLY IDOL), Corey Taylor (SLIPKNOT, STONE SOUR), Billy Gibbons (ZZ TOP), Dominick Monaghan and Franky Perez are among the guest musicians who performed with CAMP FREDDY last night (Friday, December 23) at the third and final show as part of the band's fifth annual Christmas residency at the world-famous The Roxy Theatre in West Hollywood, California.

Fan-filmed video footage of the concert can be seen below.

CAMP FREDDY is the Los Angeles-based "jam" group featuring Dave Navarro (JANE'S ADDICTION, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS), Billy Morrison (ex-THE CULT bassist, current CIRCUS DIABLO vocalist), Matt Sorum (VELVET REVOLVER, ex-GUNS N' ROSES), Donovan Leitch (son of legendary folk singer Donovan), and Chris Chaney (JANE'S ADDICTION, ALANIS MORRISETTE).

In an interview with Gibson.com, Navarro was asked if there will ever be a CAMP FREDDY album. "We talked about it for many, many years, but the logistics of something like that really doesn't translate to what we're about," he replied. "We're a live band and we're about the fun on stage and whoever's gonna get up with us — we don't know from night to night. And when you go into a studio to record songs that have already been recorded, it's difficult to recreate that kind of energy and spontaneity, so it's unlikely at this juncture."

Since its formation eight years ago when they rocked the opening of The Standard Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles at the invitation of Brent Bolthouse, CAMP FREDDY has performed on both coasts of America and on national television shows ("The Tonight Show with Jay Leno", "Jimmy Kimmel Live!", "Late Late Show With Craig Kilborn", "Last Call with Carson Daly").

Professionally filmed video footage of GUNS N' ROSES' entire December 21, 2011 concert at the Forum in Los Angeles, California can be seen below. The show was streamed online via iClips as a pay-per-view event.

GUNS N' ROSES lead singer Axl Rose said that the last thing he wants to do is ruin the band's Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction for anyone — but that doesn't mean he's willing to perform with his former bandmates. In a rare new interview with the Los Angeles Times, Rose said about the group's upcoming induction into the Hall, "I've got mixed emotions about what the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame actually really is, but at the same time, there's a lot of people — the fans — that it just means something to them, and they're happy. It's like you won the Heisman or something."

He added that he doesn't want to see the induction turn into a scenario like what happened at the Oscars decades ago, when actor Marlon Brando sent a Native American to refuse his "Best Actor" prize for "The Godfather" and make a protest speech. Rose explained, "People don't want that associated with their awards shows, even if you have a big audience. In one way it might be right, but it usually backfires on whoever does it. So I really don't want to spoil it for everybody else — or take the beating."

As for whether there have been discussions of what will happen on the night the band is inducted, Rose said, "There is no plan yet. There really is no plan."

The eccentric singer says that the current lineup of the group, of which he is the sole original member, will be "busy all next year" and will put out new music "as soon as we can figure out what our deal is with labels, blah blah blah."

Rose has fired two managers in the past year and explained why he's had a hard time dealing with them, explaining, "All these managers, they all believe in one thing: sell a reunion tour and get their commission. It's just a phone call. It's a half a day's . . . work, or however long they want to keep the bidding war going. They get their commission and they don't care if it falls on its face."

Later in the interview, Rose made the odd statement that a reunion tour would only work if guitarist Slash and bassist Duff McKagan were involved, hinting that original guitarist Izzy Stradlin and drummer Steven Adler need not be there. He said, "The only thing that would make it would be Duff and Slash, really. It's nothing against Izzy and it's nothing against Steven, or anything like that . . . I've toured with the other guys and I've also seen what they've done since, and I just know the difficulties."
GUNS N' ROSES will be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame on April 14, 2012 along with the BEASTIE BOYS, the RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS and others.

Swedish progressive rockers PAIN OF SALVATION have announced the addition of keyboardist Daniel "D2" Karlsson to the group's ranks. The band has also confirmed that Gustaf Hielm (ex-MESHUGGAH) will be the bass player for its February/March 2012 European tour.

Gustaf previously played with PAIN OF SALVATION back in 1994, years before he became involved with CHARTA 77 and MESHUGGAH.

Commented PAIN OF SALVATION mainman Daniel Gildenlöw: "It feels great to have Gustaf on board for the tour. He is truly one of the best bass players I have ever seen, and I can't wait to hear him take on the songs."

Karlsson previously played keyboards for PAIN OF SALVATION in India and handled the bass for the band on tour in South America and in Europe. In addition, he did the lights for PAIN OF SALVATION in Skellefteå.

Stated Gildenlöw: "Through the years we have always had problems finding people who can master ONE instrument well enough to play our songs the way they should be played, so needless to say [Karlsson] has impressed us by playing both the bass and the keyboard with total conviction. Asking him to join the band was a natural step. Also, band meetings were getting boring with only me and Léo there."

Added Karlsson: "To be a part of this band is a real honor. I'm very grateful to have been around PAIN OF SALVATION for quite some time, both as a technician and a musician and a fan of course, and suddenly I'm being a part of them for real. It pays off to work your way up.

"My intentions is not be the 'new' Fredrik, because there's only one. And a damn good one! But I'll do my best to carry the spirit on and bring a new chapter to the history of PAIN OF SALVATION. I'm looking forward to be a part of the future of the best band in the world."

PAIN OF SALVATION's new album, "Road Salt II" was released on September 26 in Europe and was made available on October 11 in North America via InsideOut Music.

"Distrust", the new video from Hungarian "progressive-grunge metallers" ANGERTEA, can be seen below. The song is the title track of the band's 2011 EP, which features a guest appearance by former KYUSS bassist Scott Reeder.

ANGERTEA previously released three full-length albums — "Lélekvágy" (2001), "Rushing Towards the Hateline" (2006) and "Twenty-Eight Ways to Bleed" (2009) — and an EP that was mixed by Neil Kernon (NILE, NEVERMORE, CANNIBAL CORPSE).

ANGERTEA is:

Mihály Gergely - Vocals/Guitar
Peralta Miguel - Bass
Bárkai László - Drums

ANGERTEA's fourth full-length album is due in 2012 via the Norwegian label Smash Fabric Records.

Swedish black metallers NAGLFAR have completed work on their sixth album, "Téras", for a March 2012 release via Century Media Records. The drum tracks on the CD were laid down by Dirk Verbeuren (SOILWORK).

A brand new track, "Pale Horse", is available for streaming in the YouTube clip below.

NAGLFAR's current lineup is as follows:

Kristoffer W. Olivius - Vocals
Marcus E. Norman - Guitar
Andreas Nilsson - Guitar

According to a press release, "Téras" is "another prime example of infernal melodic black metal from the vanguards of the scene."

Prior to the new album release, NAGLFAR will issue a strictly limited seven-inch EP featuring one track taken from the upcoming CD as well as a second song exclusive to this single.

A limited-edition version of "Harvest", the 2007 album from NAGLFAR, contained a bonus DVD (featuring four professionally recorded live clips from the Party.San Open Air festival 2006, the video for the track "The Perpetual Horrors" as well as an interview with lead singer Kristoffer W. Olivius). The cover artwork was created by Travis Smith.

STORM CORROSION, the much-anticipated collaboration project between OPETH's Mikael Åkerfeldt and PORCUPINE TREE's Steven Wilson, earlier in the year completed work on its self-titled debut album for an April 2012 release through Roadrunner Records. Apart from Mikael and Steven, the CD includes guest appearances by Gavin Harrison (PORCUPINE TREE) on drums/percussion, Ben Castle on woodwinds and Dave Stewart on string arrangements.

In a interview with Metal Injection conducted on November 11 at the Best Buy Theater in New York City, Wilson was asked how STORM CORROSION is different from his previous collaborations with Åkerfeldt. "Well, the only stuff I've collaborated with Mikael on in the past has been working on his records," Wilson replied. "This is obviously a collaboration, so it's a different approach. We sat in a room together and we wrote music together, rather than taking his music that he'd already written and working it into a record. We actually started from the very basics — composition and arranging."

He continued, "If you'd asked me three months ago about the music, I would have said, 'Expect the last thing you would expect.' But actually, now that [OPETH's new record] 'Heritage' has come out and [Steven Wilson's solo album] 'Grace Of Drowning' has come out, I don't think it's going to be that much of a shock to people, because it's almost like a third part of the trilogy, in a way. If anything, it's even more orchestral, even more stripped down, even more dark, twisted and melancholic… but it certainly feels like it comes from the same place as 'Heritage' and 'Grace For Drowning', which indeed it does because it was written during the same period — it was written during a period that he was playing the tracks that he'd written for 'Heritage' and I was playing the tracks that I had written for 'Grace Of Drowning'. So we were kind of, in a way, egging each other on, encouraging each other to do those particular records, but also at the same time coming up with this music that is now gonna be on STORM CORROSION. So it's a very orchestral record, it's very — as you'd expect — epic, the songs are quite long and they develop in quite unusual ways."

He concluded, "I'm realistic that half the people are gonna hate it and half the people probably will fall in love with it. I'd be happy with that anyway."

Although former DREAM THEATER drummer Mike Portnoy was initially supposed to be part of the STORM CORROSION project, he did not take part in the recording sessions for the CD. "To be honest, there's just no room for drums on what we've done," Åkerfeldt told Classic Rock magazine last year. "I called Mike up, and he was cool about it. He's got so much going on anyway, and I'm sure we will work together in the future."

"Face To The Floor", the new video from the alternative hard rock trio CHEVELLE, can be viewed below. (Note: The video stream may not be available to some non-U.S. residents.) The performance-based clip, which was filmed in Los Angeles with director Paul R. Brown (STONE SOUR, SLIPKNOT, MÖTLEY CRÜE, KORN, GODSMACK, AVENGED SEVENFOLD), mirrors the chaotic and economic state currently facing millions of Americans.

"It's an angry song," explains lead singer and songwriter Pete Loeffler about the inspiration for "Face To The Floor". "The lyrics are about all the people who have been taken advantage of. I reference Bernie Madoff and his Ponzi scheme. He raked people over the coals, stole and is a terrible person. One day, these people have everything, and the next day it's completely gone."

"Face To The Floor" comes off CHEVELLE's sixth album, "Hats Off To The Bull", which sold 43,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 20 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD was released on December 6 via Epic Records.

This past summer, CHEVELLE hunkered down in a Los Angeles studio with producer Joe Barresi (QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE, COHEED AND CAMBRIA). During the sessions, nothing was off limits, and boundaries were non-existent. Rather than simply subscribing to a tried-and-true formula, they made a conscious effort to incorporate new sounds and textures into their patented airtight anthems. As a result, "Hats Off To The Bull" is one of the group's most infectious and impressive offerings to date.

"We're a melodic hard rock band, but we wanted to expand on what that means. It's really important to be aware of what you've done already,” said drummer and Pete's brother Sam Loeffler. “We never want to write the same song twice. Pete writes 300 days a year. Joe encouraged us to try different instruments and techniques and he pushed us to continually play everything until it was right too. There are so many nuances as a result."

Legendary hard rock singer Jeff Scott Soto (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, TALISMAN, JOURNEY) is putting the finishing touches on his new solo album, "Damage Control", for a tentative March 2012 release via Frontiers Records. The CD, which "promises to deliver a one-two punch in the standard that is expected from the artist who has mastered the world of melodic and hard rock music through the ages," features guest appearances by Dave Meniketti (Y&T), Jamie Borger (TALISMAN, TREAT), Casey Grillo (KAMELOT) and Joel Hoekstra (NIGHT RANGER). There will be an 11-song standard-CD release of the album, as well as a 14-track digipack version along with a bonus DVD which includes videos and an EPK (Electronic Press Kit).

Soto previously stated about "Damage Control", "I combined the best of my first two solo albums with Frontiers Records and also tapped into the spirits of TALISMAN, SOUL SIRKUS and then some on 'Damage Control'. I have recruited my solo bandmates, new and old, to co-write with me as well as Joel Hoekstra of NIGHT RANGER and Jamie Borger of TALISMAN/TREAT to write and play with me on this. The tracks are amazing and I am sure will please all Jeff Scott Soto fans alike."

Jeff Scott Soto's double live album, "Live at Firefest 2008", came out in December 2010 via Frontiers Records.

Frontiers Records released a live DVD and CD by Jeff Scott Soto on December 4, 2009 in Europe and January 12, 2010 in the U.S. Entitled "One Night in Madrid", the set was filmed at Sala Heineken in Madrid on April 18, 2009 in front of an intimate and enthusiastic audience.

DГјsseldorf, Germany-based metallers ELMSFIRE have inked a deal with Massacre Records. The band's full-length debut, "Thieves Of The Sun", will be released on February 24, 2012.

Formed in 1999, ELMSFIRE hit the stage for the first time in 2002. The band's bassist, Fritz, describes ELMSFIRE's music as "melodic heavy metal which is influenced by thrash and power metal." The group's songs are mostly "about situations and emotions they've experienced," according to a press release.

ELMSFIRE's name is based on the St. Elmo's Fire, which is a weather phenomenon.

The band has previously released two demos and an EP.

ELMSFIRE is:

Doro - Guitar
Fritz - Bass
Patrick - Drums
Morten - Keyboard
Germano - Guitar
Erdmann - Vocals

For more information, visit www.elmsfire.info.

TARJA TURUNEN (ex-NIGHTWISH) will wrap up her What Lies Beneath tour cycle in 2012 with the following shows:

January
13 - Euronics - Zlin, Czech Republic
14 - ?EZ Arena - Pardubice, Czech Republic
16 - Stodola - Warsaw, Poland
17 - Forum Palace, Club Galaxy - Vilnius, Lithuania
19 - Gasometer - Vienna, Austria
20 - Majestic Music Club - Bratislava, Slovakia
22 - Kino Siska Club - Ljubjana, Slovenia
23 - Boogaloo Club - Zagreb, Croatia
25 - Sala Palatului - Bucharest, Romania
26 - Arena Armeec - Sofia, Bulgaria
28 - Principal Club - Thessaloniki, Greece
29 - Fuzz Club - Athens, Greece
31 - Rock Cafe - Tallin, Estonia

February
2 - Cca Nau - Kiev, Ukraine
15 - Aula Magna, Alameda da Universidade - Lisbon, Portugal
16 - Sala Capitol - Santiago de Compostela, Spain
18 - Sala Heineken - Madrid, Spain
19 - Salamandra 1 - Barcelona, Spain
21 - Bikini - Toulouse, France
22 - Transbordeur - Lyon, France
24 - Laiterie - Strasbourg, France
25 - Effenaar - Eindhoven, Netherlands
27 - Ancienne Belgique - Brussels, Belgium
28 - Bataclan - Paris, France

March
1 - Komplex - Zurich, Switzerland
2 - Teatro della Luna - Milano, Italy
4 - Sport Palace - Minsk, Belarus
6 - MILK - Moscow, Russia
7 - Nizhny Novgorod Opera Theatre - Nijny Novgorod, Russia
9 - Tele-Club - Ekaterinbourg, Russia
10 - Kosmonavt - St. Petersburg, Russia
12 - Palace of Arts Premiera - Krasnodar, Russia

"Asphyxia", the second album from Serbian melodic death metallers SANGRE ETERNA, will receive a worldwide release on February 17, 2012 via the Canadian label Maple Metal Records. The CD features guest appearances by Aleksi Sihvonen (NORTHER), Tapio Wilska (ex-FINNTROLL, NIGHTWISH), Juha Kylmänen (FOR MY PAIN), Jarmo Kylmänen (ETERNAL TEARS OF SORROW) and Jovana Karajanov (TALES OF THE DARK…). The 11-track effort was recorded in late 2010 and was mastered in Germany by Stephan Fimmers (NECROPHAGIST).

"Asphyxia" track listing:

01. The End Of Beauty
02. The Masquerade
03. Confession And Death
04. Illusions Of Fate
05. Seventh Angel
06. The Echoes Of My Loss
07. Shattered Sun (Prologue)
08. Lut Gholein
09. Alessa's Dream
10. Asphyxia
11. Seventh Angel (radio edit)

The first Serbian band to tour Sweden, SANGRE ETERNA performed at the 2009 edition of the Exit Festival in Novi Sad, Serbia alongside such bands as KATAKLYSM, SABATON, DEATH ANGEL and KEEP OF KALESSIN.

SANGRE ETERNA is:

Ilija Stevanovic - Keyboards, Vocals
Bora Jovanovic - Guitar
Milos Armus - Drums
Zoltan Kovacs – Guitar
Davor Menzildzic – Bass

The video for the song "The End Of Beauty", which will appear on "Asphyxia", can be seen below.

SANGRE ETERNA's debut album, "Amor Vincit Omnia", was released in 2008 through Sleaszy Rider Records.

"Dead And Dying", a brand new song from Finnish dark metallers SOULFALLEN, can be streamed in the YouTube clip below. The track comes off the band's third album, "The Promise Of Hell", which will be released on January 18, 2012 via the band's own label, Grave New Music, with distribution from Inverse Records/Supersounds (Finland), Plastic Head (U.K.), Bertus (Holland), Sound Pollution (Sweden), Disk Union (Japan), The End Records (USA), Rebeat (Austria), Non Stop (Switzerland), and LSP/MetalZone (Belgium). The cover artwork was created by Maija Ranka and can be seen below.

Commented SOULFALLEN frontman Kai Leikola: "The new album will be the final part of a trilogy, the closing of a chapter. It will bear the trademark sound of SOULFALLEN with some new flavors directly from the ever-burning kitchens of Hell. The story will continue where 'Grave New World' left off: at the burial of the world. Something has gone terribly wrong and life has united with death in a way never seen before. Humanity is not allowed rest but trapped in a Hell where even death cannot save those already dead."

A video for the song "Scars Aligned" was filmed this past fall and will make its online debut next month to coincide with the album's release. The clip features a guest vocal appearance by Annika Jalkanen.

In other news, SOULFALLEN has parted ways with longtime guitarist Simo Rahikainen and drummer Matti Auerkallio " due to personal reasons." The band states, "There was no drama involved, but merely they felt they could not give the band 100 percent and decided it was their time to move on. These changes will not affect the release of the album nor our upcoming live shows in 2012 that will be played with a renewed lineup."

SOULFALLEN's second album, "Grave New World", was released in March 2009 via Off Records, distributed by Firebox.